OLD BOROUGH CUP PREVIEW
HAYDOCK, SATURDAY
As you would expect for a race of this nature and prize money on offer, potentially a very competitive field is likely to be assembled and of those who come here on top of their game, PADDY THE SQUIRE (best price 12-1) makes the most appeal at the current odds.
Iain Jardine’s gelding is one of the most improved middle-distances handicappers in training so far this season, rising from a base of 81 to his current perch of 101, and his latest victory at Hamilton suggests there could be even more to come.
Up against several progressive types such as Defiance and Beylerbeyi at the Scottish venue, he still managed to cut them down to size with his usual powerful surge from two out and considering he got hampered at a crucial stage when the injured Faylaq pulled up abruptly in his path, his performance deserved even further praise.
Earlier in the campaign, the five-year-old had managed to finish a creditable third in a hot 1m2f handicap at York, over a trip now clearly seen as short of his best, and he followed that effort up with another excellent display over today’s course behind the potential pattern performer, Plague De Havre (now rated 103).
In both events, and his last two starts, the speed figures he has posted in victory and defeat have been of a very high standard and with the likelihood of another strongly run affair ensuing at the weekend, his ability to move easily through solid fractions will stand him in fine stead.
Although he has yet to race beyond 1m4f (he was entered in the Ebor but missed the cut), he shapes as though an extra two furlongs will play even more into his strengths and with all conditions coming alike to the son of Golden Horn, he will be adaptable more than most should the forecast midweek rain have an effect on the current going description of good (set to be dry Friday and Saturday).
PADDY THE SQUIRE – 1-point each-way@12-1 (four places)